Hinge and mounting therefor



Dec. 2 4, 1929. w. H. MCBARRQN 1,740,866

HINGE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed May 16, 1927 Hmuumuu mmn Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. MCBARRON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE KURZ-KASCH COM- PANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO HINGE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Application filed May 16, 1927. Serial No. 191,697.

My invention relates to hinges, and more particularly, to a snap hinge adapted to yieldingly maintain its adjustment in either open or closed position and an interlocking mounting for such hinge.

\Vhile the present form of hinge has been designed for use upon boxes, such as jewelry boxes and ornamental containers of various sorts, it is obviously not limited to such purpose but is applicable to a wide range of hinged structures.

In the present invention there is contemplated a structure wherein the members to be interconnected are recessed or slotted to receive the leaves of the hinge which are provided with tongues or looking fingers to be bent into overhanging relation with projections upon such members to retain the hinge in interconnected relation with such members. One of the hinge leaves is provided with an angularly projecting bead or rib preferably formed by angularly projecting a portion of material comprising the leaf of the hinge, which angularly projecting portion is engaged by a spring tongue carried by the opposite leaf of the hinge. As the hinge leaves are oscillated to and fro such spring tongue en ages first one and then the other side of sai angularly projecting portion thereby serving to retain the hinge leaves in either one of two adjusted positions. Such angularly projecting portion is further provided with a stop lug which engages with the sprin tongue at the limit of the movement of t e hinge in one direction to arrest its opening movement.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such snap hinges whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction but will also be more efiicient in use, positive in operation, uniform in action, possess a decided definition of movement and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to afford an improved means for interconnecting such hinges with a box and its cover or other like parts in such manner that there may be no externally visible means of attachment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of interlocking connection between the hinge leaves and the box or other article to which it is to be attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for limiting the opening movement of the hinge to a predetermined range.

With the above primary and other incidental objects' in View, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily, the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box to which the present form of hinge has been applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the hinge disconnected from the box. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the box or other article to which the hinge is to be connected, illustrating the recessed mounting therefor. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views of the hinge showing it in its closed and open positions respectively. Fi 6 is a plan view. Fig. 7 illustrates a modification.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present hinge was designed for application to ornamental boxes molded from phenolic condensation material or other plastic compounds. Because of their ornamental character, the external evidence of screws,

a snap-over action wherein a certain amount of resistance is afforded to both the opening and closing movements, thereby yielding- 1y holding the box lid in either position of adjustment.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 is a box and 2 the lid thereof, which are preferably, though not necessarily molded from plastic compound such as phenolic condensation material and the like. The hinge connecting such box 1 to the lid 2 comprises two inter-pivoted leaves 3 and 4. These leaves are connected in the usual manner along their contiguous edges by the usual alternating tongues enclosing a pintle. The leaves 3 and 4 of the hinge are split at their opposite ends to form tongues or fingers 5 which are bent forwardly out of the plane of the hinge leaf.

The wall of the box, also that of the lid to which the hinge leaves are to be connected are formed with spaced inwardly projecting pilasters or ribs 6, spaced one from the other and undercut or slotted on their adjacent margins as at 7 to afford recesses into which the ends of the leaves 3 and 4 of the hinge are slidingly inserted. These ribs or pilasters 6, projecting inwardly from the wall of the box, and of the lid as the case may be, are shouldered or rabbeted at 8, beneath which shoulders or offsets the tongues 5 of the leaves are engageable.

To engage the hinge with the box and its corresponding lid the leaf of the hinge is slidingly inserted in the slotted recesses 7 of the ribs or pilasters 6. The tongues 5, extending outside or below such ribs or pilasters as the leaf is pressed downward within the box will pass beyond the shoulders or oflsets 8 of such ribs or pilasters and may be bent into interlocking engagement there beneath by pressure with a suitable tool. If the material of the hinge leaves is of spring character, such tongues 5 will snap into place be neath the shoulders or offsets 8 to interlock the hinge with the box and with the lid as the leaf approaches the limit of its engaging movement.

Additional lugs 9 are provided intermediate the ribs or pilasters 6 and spaced away from the wall of the box or lid sufficient distance to admit the margin of the hinge leaf there behind. These lugs 9 serve to further support and secure the leaf of the hinge, preventing its accidental disengagement and confining the medial portion of the hinge leaf closely to the wall of the box. Instead of being separated lugs, the portions 9 may be continuous as a single bead or rib projecting in slightly spaced relation with the wall of the box to receive the medial portion of the bin e leaf intermediate such rib and the wall of t e receptacle.

Formed integral with one of the leaves of the hinge is a tongue 10 which normally extends beyond the hinge line of the leaves and overlaps the opposite leaf. This tongue 10 is formed into a reverse angular formation so that it becomes, in effect, an angular or beveled bead. Vhile the particular angle of the faces of such bead or reversely bent tongue 10 will depend somewhat upon the desired range of relative adjustment of the hinge sections or leaves, such faces have been shown in the drawing as inclined at approximately 45 degrees to the plane of the hinge leaves or one face at right angle to the other. At the extremity ofsuch angular tongue 10 there is provided a stop lug 11.

Secured to the opposite leaf 4 of the hinge and extending in overlapping relation with the bead or tongue 10 is a slotted or bifurcated spring member 12. This member 12 is preferably formed from spring wire which is bent into substantially U shape with the ends of the arms clenched about the margin of the hinge leaf 4. The bight of the wire spring member 12 has been shown indented at 13 for the engagement of the stop lug 11.

The bight of such spring member bears upon one or the other of the angular faces of the head or tongue 10 and in order for it to pass from one face to the other as the hinge leaves are oscillated the camming action of such bead or tongue 10 increases the tension of the spring member 12 as it passes over the apex or crown of the angular bead or tongue 10. This tension created as the angle of such bead or tongue passes the extremity of the spring member 12 in either direction and decreasing as the spring member 12 engages one or the other face of such angular bead or tongue 10 gives to the hinge movement a definition or snap-over action. The tension of the spring member 12 yieldingly resists the movement of the hinge leaves first in one direction and then in the other. I

The engagement of the lug 11 with the bight of the spring member limits the opening movement.

While the tension or spring member 12 is preferably of wire as before mentioned, and as shown in the preceding figure, it may comprise a slotted tongue 14 of sheet metal as shown in the modification Fig. 7 The purpose of the slot is to accommodate the stop lug 11 which by its engagement with the end of such slot in the metal tongue 14 performs the same function as its engagement with the bight of the spring wire tension member 12.

From the above description it will be apparent that'there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage, before enumerated as desirable, but which, obviously, is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effeet and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its form or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of interpivoted leaves, an integral tongue projecting angularly to the plane of one of the leaves Q ld bent to form oppositely inclined angular faces extending substantially in tangential relation to an arc concentric with the axis of oscillation of the hinge leaves, and a spring tongue carried by the other leaf engaging one or the other of said inclined faces as the interpivoted leaves are adjusted to and fro about their pivotal axis to maintain the hinge leaves yieldingly in their adjusted relation.

2. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of interpivoted hinge leaves, an angularly bent tongue extending in inclined relation to the plane of one of the leaves with its angular faces extending substantially equidistant at opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the hinge, a spring tongue supported contiguous to the other leaf and engaging the projecting tongue portion, first on one and then on the other of its angular faces as the leaves are adjusted to and fro about their pivotal axis to yieldingly hold the leaves in adjusted position.

3. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of hinge leaves interpivoted at spaced points, an elevated angular bearing surface on one of the leaves intermediate said pivotal points and substantially concentrio with the axis of oscillation of said hinge leaves, a spring tongue supported contiguous to the other leaf and engaging the bearing surface, the angle of said bearing surface being movable to and fro past dead center relation with the axis of oscillation and the bearing point of the spring tongue by the to and fro adjustment of the hinge leaves about their pivotal axis.

4. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of flat marginally interpivoted hinge leaves, a slotted spring tongue for yieldingly holding the leaves in relatively adjusted position about their pivotal axis, and a substantially right angle tongue carried by one of the leaves extending on opposite sides of the axis of oscillation of the hinged leaves with the opposite angular faces of which said spring tongue alternately. en-

gages, and an angularly disposed stop lug at the extremity of said angular tongue engageable within the slot of the spring tongue for limiting the relative adjustment of the hinge leaves about their pivotal axis.

5. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, snapover means for actuating the leaves alternately in opposite directions about their pivotal axis from an intermediate point of adjustment, including an independent spring tongue element bent reversely upon itself and enclosing within its bight the marginal edge of one of the hinge leaves and means for limiting the movement of the leaves under the influence of the snap-over means.

6. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, snapover means for actuating the leaves alternately in opposite directions about .their pivotal axis from an intermediate point of adjustment including an angular fiat tongue extending from one side of the axis of oscillation to the other with its angle disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the supporting leaf coincident with the axis of oscillation and a spring tongue carried by the other leaf alternately engaging the angular faces of the first mentioned tongue as the leaves are moved to and fro about their axis of oscillation, and inter-contacting portions carried by the respective leaves engaging with each other to limit the oscillatory movement of the leaves under the influence of the snapover means as said leaves approach the limit of a predetermined range of movement.

7. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted hinge leaves, a medial angularly bent flap on one of the leaves inclined to the plane of the leaf at one side of the axis of oscillation and reversely inclined to the plane of the leaf at the opposite side of the axis of oscillation in such rela-' tion that the axis of oscillation coincides with the bisector of such flap angle disposed perpendicular to the plane of the leaf and a spring tongue having a correspondingly bent shape enclosing the angle of the flap when the leaves are in a common plane.

8. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, a

non-yielding tongue projecting from the plane of one leaf and shaped to present oppositely inclined angular faces inclined to the plane of 'the leaf at opposite sides of the axis of oscillation, a spring tongue supported by the other leaf and bearing upon one and then the other of the oppositely inclined faces of the first mentioned tongue as the hinge leaves are adjusted to and fro about their pivotal axis, said tongue being tensioned' by such to and fro adjustment to effect a snapover movement of the hinge leaves.

9. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, a pair of oppositely inclined bearing surfaces located at opposite sides of the axis of oscillation upon one of the leaves, a spring tongue carried by the opposite leaf and engaging one and then the other of said inclined faces as the leaves are oscillated to and fro, the angle of said oppositely inclined faces being movable to and fro past dead center relation with the axis of oscillation and bearing point of the spring tongue, said tongue being tensione d by the approach of said angle toward such dead center position, the reaction of the tensioned spring tongue actuating the hinge leaves in one direction and then in the other from an intermediate position of adjustment and yieldingly holding the leaves in their adjusted positions.

10. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, and flexible tongues formed integral with the hinge leaves and bent out of the plane thereof for engagement beneath an overhanging portion of a mounting into which the main portion of the hinge leaf is sliclingly insertable.

11. In a hinge construction of the character described, a pair of inter-pivoted leaves, flexible anchor tongues carried by the leaves and a mounting including a socket portion in which the hinge leaf is insertable and a shoulder formed on said socket beneath which the anchor tongue is engageable.

12. The combination with a pair of interpivoted hinge leaves of flexible anchor tongues carried thereby, and a mounting therefor, having therein a slot in which the leaf of the hinge is insertable and also having notches contiguous to said slot in which the tongues are engageable.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of March A. D. 1927.

WILLIAM H. MGBARRON. 

